I asked admissions officers from Vanderbilt, Denison, the Universities of Richmond, Miami, Delaware, and Marist and Gettysburg Colleges on how much--or how little attention--essays receive in admissions decisions at a virtual breakout panel at the Independent Education Consultants Association Conference in July. We discussed the value of the Common Application essay, college-specific “Why Us?” and diversity supplements, as well as the optional COVID-19 essay, at length. While there’s a general consensus that the essay will not be the single factor that leads to admission, strong essays absolutely matter.
A general rule: colleges deemed “most competitive” (most unpredictable) value essays as much as rigor, GPA, standardized test scores, extracurriculars, and other factors. That means the main, or Common App/Coalition essay, as well as supplements. For highly selective programs within a university, such as the Ross Business School at the University of Michigan, specific supplements are read carefully by a team of admissions professionals. But for all universities, the Why Us? supplemental essays should be written thoughtfully, regardless of how competitive admissions is. This year, many colleges are adding new supplements on community and inclusion to gauge how well students engage with others, especially in diverse environments.
I try to help students and families relax about the obsession with writing essays about unusual topics. The admissions officers concur. They claim to read every essay with positive intentions to admit rather than deny. That being said, a generic essay, or one that’s trying too hard to be different, doesn’t help a student’s application. The shame of this is that no student ever has to write a boring or contrived essay once he or she understands the essay’s purpose and how to approach it.
Another topic admissions officers agree upon is the COVID-19 essay. This extra optional prompt was designed for students who experienced genuine hardship rather than those coping with virtual classes and the common compromises we all had to make during the quarantine. They told us that the COVID essay can get old fast if there are thousands of them to read.
Finally, students who are applying to college test-optionally or with scores that do not represent their true ability should certainly focus on adding essays that truly enhance their applications. In this unpredictable year when applicants have less control, they should use everything in their power to craft essays that reveal the positive character traits that colleges want to add to their communities.
What if you could answer some simple questions to discover:
Extracurricular ideas to engage you this summer and beyond?
An academic major/minor?
A satisfying career in the future?
You can--and you'll be able to revisit your answers as you move through college and the work world. High school students can focus on discovering what to do this summer--or on any of the three objectives. In three 40 minutes sessions, you'll gain insight about your college path and eventually, understand what makes a job right for you.
Session 1: Let me learn about you through a personalized Q. & A.
Session 2: Unpack your survey answers and we'll brainstorm ideas for summer.
Session 3: Let's explore the results of my research and discover what's next for you!
Workshops begin on Tuesdays and Thursdays from May 26th. Contact me lesscollegestress@gmail.com or DM on Less College Stress Consulting (Facebook) or destressthecollegeprocess (Instagram).
Juniors: Follow the advice in my post What Seniors Can Do! Even if Spring Break tours are canceled, you can still learn about colleges. I'll be available to fill you in about your right fit, majors, college culture and refine your list. But we may be able to accomplish more.
Whay matters most junior year? Giving it your best in school and on standardized tests. However, if you are in good shape academically and available to begin brainstorming for your Common App essay in April, contact me for an in-person or virtual appointment.